Budget Recording Gear Recommendations: Digital Audio Interfaces

[Peter]

So I guess there are some people *coughsixwayscough* that want me to do a little budget recording thread for digital audio interfaces. I suppose it’s about time I did another one of these things anyway. So as usual…there’s REALLY budget stuff that’s more for demos than radio ready releases and there’s stuff here that one might be able to pull off an entire album on.

FireWire Interfaces:

M-Audio FireWire Solo – 1/4” balanced input, 1 XLR input plus two Line Inputs for, say, a drum machine, keyboard, cd player, etc. Compatible with the M-Powered version of Pro Tools LE. $200 @ Sweetwater

M-Audio FireWire 410 – 2 XLR Inputs, multiple outputs and line inputs. Two monitor mix outputs, also compatible with M-Powered version of Pro Tools LE. $400 @ Sweetwater

PreSonus Firepod – EIGHT XLR inputs on this baby, all with great preamps. Firewire into your computer at 24bit/96kHz, plus it comes with Steinberg’s Nuendo (an excellent recording program). It also has S/PDIF digital I/O as well as MIDI I/O. This is basically a badass interfaces with all the I/O you could want. The price ain’t bad considering the features. $600 @ Sweetwater.

DigiDesign Digi-002 Rack – This thing has it all. It’s not budget in any way whatsoever. It’s rather expensive, but I felt like adding it in case anyone has a few grand kicking around. Tons of I/O, lots of features, comes with Pro Tools LE… $1200 @ Sweetwater

USB Interfaces:

DigiDesign M-Box – Powered via the USB port, this one is entirely portable. Two XLR inputs, two line inputs, and SPDIF I/O. Also includes inserts on both XLR inputs so you could, say, insert a compressor or EQ on the signals way into the box. Very cool. Comes with Pro Tools LE and a shitload of people love this thing, including me. $450 @ Sweetwater and it’s WORTH THE DOUGH.

Edirol UA-25 – Two XLR/TRS inputs, monitor output, 24bit/96kHz resolution. Also has an instrument input for directly plugging in basses/guitars/etc. Not a bad deal, I have not used this product, however. $240 @ Sweetwater

M-Audio FastTrack USB – Now here’s a cool little buy. XLR, Instrument and Line input (1 each). Also has RCA outputs in case you like really crappy audio. And the price! OH MY! $100 @ Sweetwater

M-Audio MobilePre – Two XLR inputs, Two instrument/line inputs, headphone output with control knob, 24bit/96kHz. Powered by the USB port. $150 @ Sweetwater

PCI Interfaces:

I’m not touching these with a 10 foot pole. If you REALLY want a recommendation, PM me…it’s just too much work to evaluate them and put them up…and they’re not really worth it, IMO. They tax the computers CPU too much. Causes the computer to really work had for it’s money, you know?

[hurdy gurdy mann]

Originally posted by Peter


PCI Interfaces:

I’m not touching these with a 10 foot pole. If you REALLY want a recommendation, PM me…it’s just too much work to evaluate them and put them up…and they’re not really worth it, IMO. They tax the computers CPU too much. Causes the computer to really work had for it’s money, you know?


i have a pci interface.

[Trickster]

Originally posted by Peter
So I guess there are some people *coughsixwayscough* that want me to do a little budget recording thread for digital audio interfaces.

And me!

:-D

What do you think of the cheaper PreSonus - the FireBox?

You gave a little bit of spec info but can u give short review type info as to whether you think these things are any good or not? I for one trust your advice... rightly or wrongly. :-p

[Six Ways]

I'd like to mention another interface that I talked about recently in the 'budget recording' thread, the Lexicon Omega Studio USB.

Looks quite good to me:

4-in/2-out (which is all I need)
2 XLR's / mic level 1/4in jacks
4 Line input 1/4in jacks
1 front mounted mic level 'instrument' 1/4in jack
SPDIF Coax I/O
MIDI 1x1 I/O
Loads of knobs on the front
Phantom power
Comes with Cubase LE, including an exclusive Lexicon reverb plugin
About £180 most places I can find, so about $320.

http://www.lexiconpro.com/Omega/

[Peter]

Just coming up with what I came up with took a good hour out of my day, not to mention about 40 years off of my life expectancy. As far as what I personally like...Anything by M-Audio is cool, PreSonus gear will generally have good sounding preamps which really count quite a great deal and as far as PCI interfaces go...um. too much work. sorry. :-\ But from what I hear. the Delta 44 and Delta 1010 from M-Audio are quite good, and digidesign used to have their Digi-001 which was PCI, but the newer versions of Pro Tools LE don't support it (it's a LEGACY system!)

[Six Ways]

I think generally M-Audio are good, yeah, but there have been quite a few complaints about the FireWire 410 interface, mainly regarding pretty flaky WinXP drivers. As far as I can tell, everything else by M-audio is fine, and to be honest, probably most people have no problems with the 410, and if you do there's a lot of troubleshooting info on the M-Audio website.

EDIT: I think I've cleared something up with the 410: there are NOT 4 analogue inputs! There are 2 analogue inputs and 2 digital inputs. To record 4 simultaneous tracks you must use 2 analogue and 2 digital sources.

Speaking of ProTools LE, (if it's the free version?) I downloaded it, and it doesn't seem to like XP at all...just refuses to work full stop.

EDIT: Since I'm on a Lexicon Omega kick (I'm probably buying one in 15 minutes on Ebay) here's a review I found:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar04/articles/lexiconomega.htm

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Six Ways
EDIT: I think I've cleared something up with the 410: there are NOT 4 analogue inputs! There are 2 analogue inputs and 2 digital inputs. To record 4 simultaneous tracks you must use 2 analogue and 2 digital sources.
No. Look at this. (http://www.m-audio.com/images/en/callouts/big/firewire_410.jpg) There are two analogue XLR inputs on the front, two analogue TRS (1/4"/6mm) line inputs on the back AND stereo coax/optical S/PDIF digital inputs. "4-in" means you can run up to four simultaneous analogue inputs. I doubt you'd be able to run two (or one or three or four) analogue inputs AND the S/PDIF digital input simultaneously.

BTW you probably downloaded Pro Tools Free, which I don't think has been updated in years. Pro Tools LE is bundled software — you can't get it without buying accompanying DigiDesign hardware.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Six Ways
EDIT: Since I'm on a Lexicon Omega kick (I'm probably buying one in 15 minutes on Ebay) here's a review I found:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar04/articles/lexiconomega.htm
USB 1.1? No 96KHz? Ugh.

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Jonathan
No. Look at this. (http://www.m-audio.com/images/en/callouts/big/firewire_410.jpg) There are two analogue XLR inputs on the front, two analogue TRS (1/4"/6mm) line inputs on the back AND stereo coax/optical S/PDIF digital inputs. "4-in" means you can run up to four simultaneous analogue inputs. I doubt you'd be able to run two (or one or three or four) analogue inputs AND the S/PDIF digital input simultaneously.

Once again, I'm very confused. The Sound On Sound review says it's 2 analog in, 2 digital in.... :cry:

Right, I found the bit describing it in the review, and I'm pretty sure it's only 2 analog ins at a time. It says there's a button next to each XLR socket on the front that switches input from the mic socket at the front to ther respective line input at the back. Only one at a time can be used, you can't use say mic socket one and line socket one at the same time.

Originally posted by Jonathan
USB 1.1? No 96KHz? Ugh.
Again, according to Sound On Sound, the Lexicon is incredibly efficient in the way it interfaces with the computer via USB, and manages to never get near to exceeding bandwidth, and apparently there's no other problems either. I was wary of it being USB too, but my fears have been allayed somewhat. As the guy says: "I did try to make the USB connection fall over, but found it reliable and tolerant of all I threw at it — a busy MIDI stream, four channels of incoming audio and the stereo mix feeding the monitor out."

Plus, I really don't need 96KHz. To be fair, there's not many home recording uses I can imagine that really do. I'm not talking about recording absolutely studio-quality stuff here, although sound on sound says the quality is very good anyway.

I imagine you wont like the fact that it's only 2 outs, too, but again, more than 2 outs is the absolute bottom of my list, as I'm not sending it to another mixer or anything. Although of course the SPDIF out can be used to send data to a digital mixer etc if need be.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Six Ways
Speaking of ProTools LE, (if it's the free version?) I downloaded it, and it doesn't seem to like XP at all...just refuses to work full stop.


LE and the free version are not one and the same. They are different versions. The free version is like a little "trial" toy version for people to look at and see all the buttons, and it wasn't updated to be compatible with XP because it just doesn't matter, really.

LE is the version that ships with the MBox and Digi-002 hardware interfaces.

[Six Ways]

So is it the same kinda deal with Cubase LE? Is this only available bundled with hardware too? e.g. the lexicon!

[Peter]

Originally posted by Six Ways
So is it the same kinda deal with Cubase LE? Is this only available bundled with hardware too? e.g. the lexicon!

I'm not terribly familiar with the workings of Cubase, but it's my understanding that Cubase LE is bundled with a great deal of hardware interfaces, from Aardvark to Tascam to PreSonus. As far as it's ability to work without said hardware, I'm not sure. However, I would imagine that the program will run fine sans a hardware interface (you'd still need a sound card, of course). However, I'd do some research about that first before dropping any money on it, word.

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Peter
I'm not terribly familiar with the workings of Cubase, but it's my understanding that Cubase LE is bundled with a great deal of hardware interfaces, from Aardvark to Tascam to PreSonus. As far as it's ability to work without said hardware, I'm not sure. However, I would imagine that the program will run fine sans a hardware interface (you'd still need a sound card, of course). However, I'd do some research about that first before dropping any money on it, word.

I think it requires ASIO compliance at least.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Six Ways
I think it requires ASIO compliance at least.

fo'shizzle.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Six Ways
Once again, I'm very confused. The Sound On Sound review says it's 2 analog in, 2 digital in.... :cry:

Right, I found the bit describing it in the review, and I'm pretty sure it's only 2 analog ins at a time. It says there's a button next to each XLR socket on the front that switches input from the mic socket at the front to ther respective line input at the back. Only one at a time can be used, you can't use say mic socket one and line socket one at the same time.
In that case, M-Audio should be kneecapped for crippling the 410. What a stupid design decision.


Again, according to Sound On Sound, the Lexicon is incredibly efficient in the way it interfaces with the computer via USB, and manages to never get near to exceeding bandwidth, and apparently there's no other problems either. I was wary of it being USB too, but my fears have been allayed somewhat. As the guy says: "I did try to make the USB connection fall over, but found it reliable and tolerant of all I threw at it — a busy MIDI stream, four channels of incoming audio and the stereo mix feeding the monitor out."
That review says the unit has eight inputs but is restricted to four simultaneous inputs due to the limitations of USB. The reviewer couldn't make the USB connection fall over because Lexicon have already hamstrung their unit. :)

Plus, I really don't need 96KHz. To be fair, there's not many home recording uses I can imagine that really do. I'm not talking about recording absolutely studio-quality stuff here, although sound on sound says the quality is very good anyway.

I imagine you wont like the fact that it's only 2 outs, too, but again, more than 2 outs is the absolute bottom of my list, as I'm not sending it to another mixer or anything. Although of course the SPDIF out can be used to send data to a digital mixer etc if need be.
Despite my misgivings about USB audio interfaces, it sounds like this Lexicon unit would be more than adequate for your current needs. However, if you think there's any chance that you might want to record a drum kit or anything requiring more than four inputs at any time in the near future, you really should consider biting the bullet and paying a bit more to get something that isn't going to limit your options down the line.

[Peter]

Who says you can't record a drum kit properly with only four mics? I've done it :)

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Jonathan
That review says the unit has eight inputs but is restricted to four simultaneous inputs due to the limitations of USB. The reviewer couldn't make the USB connection fall over because Lexicon have already hamstrung their unit. :)


Despite my misgivings about USB audio interfaces, it sounds like this Lexicon unit would be more than adequate for your current needs. However, if you think there's any chance that you might want to record a drum kit or anything requiring more than four inputs at any time in the near future, you really should consider biting the bullet and paying a bit more to get something that isn't going to limit your options down the line.

Yeah, but I was looking for a 4-in system. Wouldn't have been looking at the 410 otherwise.

And I really don't think there's much I'll need to do past 4 inputs. Personally, I'd prefer to record drums by micing the drums, then running those into a mixer, mix it all down to one channel and have that going into the lexicon. I don't really see much point (at least, not at this level) in hving each percussion item on a separate track.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Six Ways
mix it all down to one channel

MONO DRUMS??? SINNER. All the kids are doing stereo these days.

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Peter
MONO DRUMS??? SINNER. All the kids are doing stereo these days.

Sorry, I didn't mean one channel, I meant one cable. One stereo cable.

[Peter]

Jesus, dont' scare me like that...but remember...if you're going to do drums that way (mics > mixer > interface), there should be TWO cables going to the interface. One for Left, one for Right. A stereo cable (whatever that is)...is nothing more than a balanced TRS cable or an XLR cable - designed to carry a signal channel of audio, to run TWO channels through it would make two unbalanced channels in one cable.

So, the moral of the story is, take the master l/r out of the mixer on two seperate cables and plug them into two inputs on the Lexicon.......yeah.

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Peter
A stereo cable (whatever that is)

I just meant any cable with two channels.

[Peter]

Electronic Musician has a long review of the Lexicon Omega in this month's issue and it's a VERY positive review (4 out of 5 stars). So I guess I'll have to add it to my recommendations.

The Lexicon Omega! 4-tracks simultaneously via USB 1! Cubase LE included! sub-$500!

[Six Ways]

Yeah, well I got one a while back now, about a month perhaps, and although I had some fairly major problems to begin with (I was intermittently recieving huge bursts of static simultaneously on every single channel!) I have now sorted them out and it's working like a charm. Bizarrely, the fix was to install XP SP2, although neither cubasee nor the Omega require it.... :rolleyes:

So I can definitely recommend it, and if you get one, and get wierd static problems, try installing SP2.

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Peter
Electronic Musician has a long review of the Lexicon Omega in this month's issue

Out of interest, what do they say about the Alesis Micron synth? Just saw that they reviewed it on the website.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Six Ways
Out of interest, what do they say about the Alesis Micron synth? Just saw that they reviewed it on the website.

you know...that's not in the issue that the omega is reviewed in and I don't recall seeing one in an earlier issue.

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Peter
you know...that's not in the issue that the omega is reviewed in and I don't recall seeing one in an earlier issue.

Maybe that's last month's issue you have or something...it definitely says on the site that they have the Micron in this month's. But whatever.

[Peter]

The June edition is featured on the site. The Micron was reviewed in that edition. I have the July edition. :)

[Six Ways]

Originally posted by Peter
The June edition is featured on the site. The Micron was reviewed in that edition. I have the July edition. :)

Hairy muff.

[Peter]

I found my copy of EM from June with the micron review in it. I'll read it on my way to work and let you know what they think.

[Fab]

It's probably a bit late now, he was mainly asking because I was looking to get a cheapish synth, but I just got a Microkorg instead. I looked at both and the Micron did look a lot better, but it's out of my price range.

Feel free to let us know how it did in that review though, I'll probably look into getting one at some point.

[nathan]

i didnt read this thread but i have a lexicon omega...it works quite well...i love being able to have 4 separate record tracks...its quite portable, all i need to bring is the omega and my laptop to practice and get really high quality recordings...i usually use mics (2 xlr and 4 1/4"), mix those into the 4 outs and send that thru the usb cable (or when doing it a little more professional, we will use more mics and premix them with external mixers)...i recommend the lexicon omega if you want good mic preamp channels and 4 simultaneous record tracks with one unit...easy to use and not a single problem or issue once installed...

[fwoty oz]

there’s REALLY budget stuff that’s more for demos than radio ready releases and there’s stuff here that one might be able to pull off an entire album on.

Peter - I recently bought and so far love the MBox - it works and sounds great. Would you place it more on the extreme budget team or do you think it's capable of pulling of "an entire album" as you put it?

[Peter]

Originally posted by threefromzero
Peter - I recently bought and so far love the MBox - it works and sounds great. Would you place it more on the extreme budget team or do you think it's capable of pulling of "an entire album" as you put it?

With some creative and technical use, you can definitely do an entire album on the MBox. Drums would be the trick - the best thing to do there would be mic the whole kit, run all the mics to an outboard mixer, mix it all down so it sounds perfect and take the stereo insert outputs and send those to the MBox. Otherwise, yeah, why the hell not do an entire album on it??

[fwoty oz]

Yeah drums are giving me the most trouble but that sounds like a viable solution. Are there any drum sampling programs out there (ie Drums!, hammerhead) that are actually worth using and produce a decent sound or can I just give up on that fantasy?

[Peter]

I don't have a big head of knowledge as far as drum sample programs, but some of the other folks around here do. I'd suggest making a thread on this forum about it, I'd better some people could give you recommendations.

[revgoozen]

I'm not terribly familiar with the workings of Cubase, but it's my understanding that Cubase LE is bundled with a great deal of hardware interfaces, from Aardvark to Tascam to PreSonus. As far as it's ability to work without said hardware, I'm not sure. However, I would imagine that the program will run fine sans a hardware interface (you'd still need a sound card, of course). However, I'd do some research about that first before dropping any money on it, word.


cubase works with whatever, by the way. i'm still getting used to it. it's not as user friendly as, say, pro tools, but then again, i didn't have the money for pro tools.

for the record im using the m audio fast track usb interface with it, which i picked up sans software bundle (i don't need albeton), for 45.00 from best buy. it's worth what i paid for it, and not a penny more!